News
DEMA 2009: Underwater Photography Products-SLR Housings
By Matt J. Weiss, November 10, 2009 @ 11:28 PM (EST)
DEMA 2009: Underwater Photography Products-SLR Housings
Seeing and playing with the new DSLR housings at DEMA is probably what I look forward to the most. Each year we see not only housings for the latest models, but also new features and even entirely new housing manufacturers. Last year we saw Watershot come onto the scene, and this year marked the beginning of Nauticam - one of the most exciting new products of the show. Below is the coverage the booths featuring new housings for DSLR cameras.
Nauticam
Last year at Dema Nauticam turned some heads with their white-balance dome ports. Turns out that was the appetizer, and this year they unleashed the main-course -- Nauticam housings. With a booth right in the middle of the photo pavilion, the Nauticam housings were easily one of the most talked about and well received new products of the show.
On display were housings for the Nikon D90, which is currently shipping, the Nikon D700, which will be out in the next two weeks, and CAD drawings of a Canon 7D housing which will be out by the end of the year. The D90 housing currently ships for $2300.
It’s clear a lot of thought went into the aesthetics and ergonomics of the housings, as they look really slick! With the Nauticam housing you can access the D90’s live view and ok/record functions from a single control in the right handle. This feels very intuitive and eliminates the uncomfortable reach that is required to start the video function of the D90.
It’s clear a lot of thought went into the aesthetics and ergonomics of the housings, as they look really slick! With the Nauticam housing you can access the D90’s live view and ok/record functions from a single control in the right handle. This feels very intuitive and eliminates the uncomfortable reach that is required to start the video function of the D90.
The port system of the housing is also very innovative. Nauticam designed a patented port locking release lever. This new system requires no twisting or turning, simply place the port on the housing and push down the red locking lever. A bayonet mechanism then puts it in place automatically. To remove the port, just hit the silver unlock button and the port is automatically rotated so you can pull it straight off. Again, very slick!
Nauticam was very smart to produce port adaptors for Sea & Sea, Ikelite, Nexus, Aquatica and Subal ports, making migrating from your current housing much more economical as you wont have to purchase ports, just a single adaptor.
Nauticam also displayed a 180 degree straight viewfiner with external diopter adjustment that retails for $900 dollars. The viewfinder’s large optic makes it easier to see through the sometimes eye straining viewfinder. The external diopter control means that you can adjust it while diving. You can also purchase the viewfinder for most common brands of housings with the appropriate adaptor.
Suffice it to say the housings made some noise at Dema 2009. Welcome to the game, Nauticam!
Subal
There is not much to say about the individual housings, other than Subal continues to produce quality housings for popular DSLR cameras. They are made with high quality materials and are small and relatively light. At DEMA Subal was highlighting three new products.
First off was the Subal CD500 for the Canon Digital Rebel 500D. Rolf Sempert said he thought it was the smallest housing available for the popular 500D.
Next on the roster was the ND300s for the Nikon D300s, which is very similar to the housing for the D300 but with a new modified back to utilize the video functions of the D300s. Subal is selling the back separately so if you updated from the D300 to the D300s you don’t have to buy a whole new housing.Thank you Subal, surely that effort is appreciated by D300 owners.
First off was the Subal CD500 for the Canon Digital Rebel 500D. Rolf Sempert said he thought it was the smallest housing available for the popular 500D.
Watershot
Watershot was back at DEMA with a booth displaying their two new DSLR housings and the new Stryker light. Tim Calver walked us through the new products.
One new housing was for the Canon Digital Rebel T1i / EOS 500D. The housing was very similar to the 450D housing we saw at last year’s DEMA, but features some upgrades including a new one-handed latch and a new base and handles.
One new housing was for the Canon Digital Rebel T1i / EOS 500D. The housing was very similar to the 450D housing we saw at last year’s DEMA, but features some upgrades including a new one-handed latch and a new base and handles.
SEA & SEA
Andy Sallmon showed us the Sea & Sea RDX-500D housing for the Canon EOS Rebel T1i/Xsi/ EOS 500D/ EOS 450D. This housing is part of their relatively inexpensive RDX series that are geared towards new DSLR shooters.
The housing also features two fiber-optic cable bulkheads (L-type) for strobes. Again, we are seeing more and more utilization of fiber optic bulkheads. It especially makes sense for housings for entry level SLR's that are meant to be simple and inexpensive, as fiber optic connectivity is both simple and inexpensive.
Seacam
Seacam housings are considered to be some of the highest quality housings on the market. Their slick silver color and creative design add to their luxurious appeal . They were featuring the recently released Seacam 5D Mark II housing, which has all the qualities you would expect from a Seacam housing.
Considering the Seacam booth was a joint booth with Canon, it’s no surprise everyone was talking about the fact that the new Canon 1D Mark IV could fit almost seamlessly into the Seacam housing for the Canon 1D Mark III. The only difference is that the housing doesn’t have access to the FEL button that is required to activate video. There will be a work around, but it will come with a sacrifice of not being able to adjust ISO while underwater, possibly a sacrifice many photographers would make depending on the conditions in which you shoot. 
Seacam also had on hand a housing for the Nikon D300s, which the manufacturers are betting will be another very popular housing, as there are a number of models being released this year for the HD video upgraded version of the popular D300.
The Seacam booth also had on display many products that we have covered previously, including Seacam strobes, ports, arms, and the external / remote viewing monitor.
Epoque
Epoque is a Japanese company that offers a wide range of underwater photo and video products. Frank Fennell, head of Eqpoque USA, explained to me that Epoque strives to provide value, finding the right compromise between affordable pricing and quality. With that in mind, Frank showed me the new Epoque housing for the Canon Rebel DSLR series.
The housing is made out of ABS plastic and is available for the XSi, XS and XTi for a reasonable $1150 dollars. There are a total of six ports available for the housing, including the new 210mm acrylic dome port available for $600 dollars.
The housing provides access to almost all the functions of the cameras, including live view. The housing has options for electronic strobe syncing using either a 5-pin Nikonos bulkhead or a 6-pin Canon TTL connector as well as the option of using fiber optics.
A nice feature is the slide in saddle making it really easy put the camera in the housing by taking the saddle out, attaching the camera to it, and then sliding the saddle back in.
Aquatica
Aquatica always has a nice booth at DEMA, and 2009 was no different. Aquatica features a full line of housings and accessories for most of the major DSLR's from Canon and Nikon. Aquatica has been around for a long time, and has become a major player in the underwater photography industry, constantly improving their design elements. Last year they started making housings for certain video cameras, so they split their DEMA booth to give video its own section.
On the still side of the booth, the major news was the Aquatica D300s for the Nikon D300s. As you know by now, the D300s has video capabilities and required a new housing, one of the frustrations of shooting underwater. Since they were releasing a new housing anyway, Aquatica decided to add a big new feature to the D300s housing - you guessed it - two fiber optic bulkheads. Aquatica is the first of the major housing manufacturers to utilize fiber optic connectivity on a housing for a relatively high end DSLR. Clearly we are starting to see more housings offer fiber optic ports and this is a good thing. 
Adding optical bulkhead means that housings can now support fiber optic emulated flash TTL exposure and eliminates the risk of flooding the bulkheads and strobe cords, which are common problems. Fiber optic cables are significantly less expensive than sync cords and are very reliable.
The Aquatica housing supports both Inon and Sea & Sea fiber optic sync cords depending on which removable tip is installed.
On the still side of the booth, the major news was the Aquatica D300s for the Nikon D300s. As you know by now, the D300s has video capabilities and required a new housing, one of the frustrations of shooting underwater. Since they were releasing a new housing anyway, Aquatica decided to add a big new feature to the D300s housing - you guessed it - two fiber optic bulkheads. Aquatica is the first of the major housing manufacturers to utilize fiber optic connectivity on a housing for a relatively high end DSLR. Clearly we are starting to see more housings offer fiber optic ports and this is a good thing.
Of course the Aquatica housing also has a wired bulkhead for shooting with sync cords and wired strobes (which most of us still do).
The Aquatica housing for the Canon 7D was almost complete, and should be released very soon.
Ultima Digital
Ultima Digital made a huge splash at last years DEMA with their housing for the Hasselblad H3D medium format camera. Medium format cameras are the domain of fashion and commercial photographers, so don't expect to see this on your next dive trip. However, we can all dream. The quality of the 50 megapixel Hasselblad is evident every step of the way. One of the benefits of medium format is intense details in very large prints, which can put even the pro DSLR's tp shame. Peter Lorber displayed just that - some very intense, large underwater prints taken with the H3D II. Even the blow up of this mermaid's face (not shown) at about 4 feet, maintained crisp detail.
The Ultima Digital underwater housings for the Hasselblad H3D IIand HD4 were on display. The housings have a depth rating of 200 feet (although chances are most owners of this set-up will be shooting shallow or even in pools), are made out of aluminum and have a slight positive buoyancy underwater. Once again the large flat port for the 120mm macro lens had a lot of gawkers, but also on display was the brand new 9.25” glass dome port for the 35mm, 50mm and 80 mm lenses. You can see below how the lens shade covers the part of the dome that is outside the field of view.
- DEMA 2009 Main Page
- DEMA 2009: Entry Level Products
- DEMA 2009: DSLR Housings
- DEMA 2009: Compact Housings and Beyond
- DEMA 2009: Photo Accessories
- DEMA 2009: Video Lights and Unique Video Systems
- DEMA 2009: Video Housings
- DEMA 2009: The DPG Booth and the Showfloor
- DEMA 2009: Award Party and DPG / Wetpixel Cocktail Party
- DEMA 2009: Closing Remarks
RELATED ARTICLES
LATEST EQUIPMENT
Be the first to add a comment to this article.
You must be logged in to comment.
Sponsor
Newsletter
Travel with us
Featured Photographer
Joseph Tepper
Expert Photographer
I started diving at the age of ten and since that time have wanted to become a better photographer whether using a disposable Kodak waterproof (you know the blue ones) or my D300s. Last summer I received my dive-master in Grand...
Sponsors
